Sonata Arctica

[SeaStorm]

I'm resurrecting this thread for the second time

White Pearl, Black Oceans - Probably one of my favorite songs SA has done. Great melodies and harmonies.

"White Pearl, Black Oceans" is

I just saw Sonata in Minnesota tonight and THEY PLAYED WHITE PEARL, BLACK OCEANS! I could not believe it. I asked Tony a few years ago (on the Reckoning Night tour) if they'd be playing it live and he basically said they probably wouldn't ever play it live, due to length and complexity. So I was totally shocked when they played it tonight. I'm not sure if they're playing it on this entire tour w/ Nightwish, or just on the solo dates (Minnesota is 1 of 6 solos date - THANK YOU to SwordLord for making it happen), but if you're a fan, get out and see it!

WPBO is probably my all-time favorite power metal song, so I can die happy now

 

[Rook41]

Arctica is definitely a favorite of mine. I think I like Reckoning Night better than Unia though.

Speaking of which, does anyone know where I can get one of their EP's, either Takatalvi or Successor? There's a couple of sings I want to get but cannot seem to find.

 

[SeaStorm]

[From 2004:] Tony just blows me away as a songwriter...the melodies he comes up with are out of this world!! Hopefully I'll get to meet him eventually. It's always an honor to meet the songwriters I look up to.

And now, as of April 30, 2010, Theocracy has opened for them!

Thread resurrection #3! This seems to be my lot in life

I'm bumping this thread due to the significant amount of SA talk in the "what are you currently listening to" thread. This should be some good reading for those interested.

Wow, it's weird to read a 6 year old thread and see all the old "regulars" who have left us, e.g. Spyderman-Hyderman, who used to post all the time, but seems to have left us in 2006

 

[Martyr's Crown]

Thread resurrection #3! This seems to be my lot in life

I'm bumping this thread due to the significant amount of SA talk in the "what are you currently listening to" thread. This should be some good reading for those interested.

Pretty glad I started it off, then. I probably wasn't going to get much into them, but after you posted some recommended songs I'm probably going to try to get an album of theirs soon.

 

[Ryan M.]

When i opened this up i was freaked out... im like... new names??? wut??? omg! But then i realized the date.

 

[SeaStorm]

I'm probably going to try to get an album of theirs soon.

My suggestion would be to try Reckoning Night first. It's the album most likely to appeal to the broadest range of listeners. It was my fav until Unia came along.

Another thing: Sonata is known for producing a lot of awesome cover songs. I usually try to get the import versions of their CDs so I can get the covers. The Reckoning Night import has my favorite cover of theirs: Depeche Mode's World In My Eyes. IMO, it's worth going an extra step to get that.

Here's a couple more songs to pique people's interest.

Many fans' fav song from Reckoning Night is Don't Say A Word (warning: dark lyrics; Tony likes to explore relationships from all angles - from positive to negative - this one is told by a psycho stalker):



One of their best covers - Out in the Fields (by Gary Moore and Phil Lynott):



Lastly, Flag In The Ground was the first single from the newest album. This is an odd song because it was written at least 10 years ago, so it sounds like "old" Sonata and nothing else on The Days of Grays sounds like this.

 

[Ryan M.]

I'm really likin' this stuff!!!

 

[Aletheus]

Tony said the "new Sonata" is what he wants to play... He never liked the classical power metal outfit that Sonata stood for.

I had no idea Flag In The Ground was older, but it all makes sense now ((

 

[Legionnaire10]

I do like Sonata Arctica, but not the newest album. Unia is definitely my favourite, I think it has a bit more prog elements in the songs than some other albums they got.

Gotta bump metal made by my countrymen

 

[Ryan M.]

They rock like a lot. Gonna buy some of their stuff on iTunes soon. .

 

[Darknight6606]

I LOVE SONATA ARCTICA! I love pretty much all power metal. and Matt, do you listen to any other genres? (of metal) Because I love ALL genres of metal \m/ And i also love the message you are spreading!

 

[Ryan M.]

BUMP!

 

[ch3353n1nj4]

i got to see them live last year, at the show in VA right after the one in GA where you guys got to open for them. Tony is definitely one of my favorite vocalists too, and the show was tons of fun

 

[Ryan M.]

AWESOME! I'm jealous of you guys .

Now I'm listening to "White Pearl, Black Oceans" BTW!

 

[JamesDS]

I'm not a massive fan of all of their music, but I really like the songs "Flag in the Ground" and "The Last Amazing Grays". The former has such a powerful sound and tells a lovely story, and the latter is just beautiful.

 

[labarum]

Old Thread Revival!
Sonata was one of the first metal bands I ever really loved, and the only one I can get my wife to listen to. It does not surprise me that they are mentioned on this forum, as I can most definitely draw some comparisons to Theocracy's music. My favorite album is Unia, although they are all breathtaking.

My fav. songs being
It Won't Fade
Fly With The Black Swan
Draw Me (saw this one live. AMAZING how much emotion Tony put into it. he told a story that gave the song much much more meaning to it)
White Pearl Black Oceans
Juliet (because of it's resolution of the 4-song, multi-album, genius storyline; and he sang it to my wife at at show! ahh!)

Insane how the band can be sound sooo good on CD and in real life. Phenomenal musicians. They are also super decent people (take time after every show I've been to for their fans, to sign autographs and just hang out and talk)

 

[JayArby]

a friend of mine showed me "Flag In The Ground" and that is when I first realized that melodic metal was for me.

 

[Trosten]

Words can be beautiful and music amazing, but trough spirits speaking the tale turns our face in their direction.

 

[Ryan M.]

Words can be beautiful and music amazing, but trough spirits speaking the tale turns our face in their direction.

???

 

[JayArby]

I think he's saying he doesn't like secular music.